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The Tarrant County medical examiner has concluded that Anthony Ray Johnson, Jr.’s death was a homicide, citing mechanical and chemical asphyxia as the cause.
Johnson, aged 31, passed away at the Tarrant County Jail on April 21.
In a statement released by Attorney Daryl Washington on behalf of the Johnson family, it was expressed that the medical examiner’s report aligns with their observations from security camera footage. The family emphasized witnessing Johnson being restrained, pepper-sprayed, and subjected to pressure from a jailer’s knee, resulting in his inability to breathe. They asserted that the jailers’ actions, including the unnecessary use of pepper spray, contributed to Johnson’s death. The family called for termination, criminal charges, and prosecution of all involved parties.
Community activists, including Pastor Michael Bell from Unity in the Community Coalition of Tarrant County, reiterated their demand for Sheriff Bill Waybourn’s resignation, highlighting the concerning number of inmate deaths at the county jail.
Waybourn stated that Johnson was pepper-sprayed and restrained after a confrontation with jailers, leading to his unresponsiveness. He initially terminated two jailers involved in the incident but later withdrew the terminations, placing the employees on administrative leave.
The withdrawal of terminations was attributed to guidance from the District Attorney’s Office, citing Civil Service Administration guidelines. Waybourn expressed his commitment to justice in the case despite the setback.
NBC 5 reached out to Waybourn’s office and the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Texas Rangers for comments on the ME’s determination and its impact on the investigations, awaiting responses.